• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.305-320
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• 2005

Recently 64 species in Korea have been ranked as rare and endangered taxa by the Ministry of Environment using two categories, I and II. The original threat categories produced by the Ministry of Environment were developed to provide a standard for specifying animals and plants in danger of extinction and has been influential sources of information used in species conservation in Korea. However, the criteria by Ministry of Environment were applied to the whole taxa only by regional boundaries, especially in South Korea, rather than international context, and it also lacked an explicit framework that was necessary to ensure repeatability among taxa because of the absence of quantitative criteria to measure the likelihood of extinction. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has developed quantitative criteria for assessing the conservation status of species. The threatened species categories, the 2000 IUCN Red List, proposed by SSC (Species Survival Commission) of IUCN have become widely recognized internationally. Details of threatened Korean plants, identified by applying the IUCN threat categories and definitions, were listed and analyzed. The number of species identified as threatened was only 34 out of 64 taxa (48.4%), while the rest of taxa were rejected from the original lists. Many of the species (51.6%, 33 taxa) excluded from the original list proposed by Ministry of Environment do not qualify as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable because these taxa were widely distributed either in Japan or in China/far eastern Russia and there is no evidence of substantial decline in these countries. An evaluation of taxa in Korea has been carried out only based on subjective views and qualitative data, rather than quantitative scientific data, such as rates of decline, distribution range size, population size, and risk of extinction. Therefore, the national lists undermine the credibility of threatened species lists and invite misuse, which have been raised by other cases, qualitative estimate of risk, political influence, uneven taxonomic or geographical coverage. The increasing emphasis on international responsibilities means that global scale is becoming more significant. The current listings by Environment of Ministry of Korea should be challenged, and the government should seek to facilitate the resolution of disagreements. Especially the list should be flexible enough to handle uncertainty and also incorporates detailed, quantitative data. It is suggested that the highest priorities for the Red List should be given to endemic species in Korea first. After setting up the list of endemic species to Korea, quantitative data on population size and structure, distributional range, rated of decline, and habitat fragmentation should be collected as one of long term projects for the Red list categories. Transparency and accountability are the most important key factors. Also, species assessors are named and data sources referenced are required for the future objective evaluations on Korean plant taxa.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.202-219
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the community structure of forest vegetation in Mt. Geumsusan belong to Woraksan National Park for providing basic information of ecological management. Data were collected by 41 plots from June to November in 2016 using Z-M phytosociology method, which was analyzed with vegetation types, mean importance value and coincidence method. As the results, the forest vegetation was classified into Quercus mongolica community group including Cornus controversa community, Castanea crenata community(Vegetation unit 3), Quercus variabilis community(Vegetation unit 4) and Q. mongolica community(Vegetation unit 5). C. controversa community was divided into two groups such as Ulmus davidiana var. japonica group(Vegetation unit 1) and Parthenocissus tricuspidata group(Vegetation unit 2). Mean importance percentage of vegetation unit 1 was showing Fraxinus rhynchophylla 14.9%, Morus bombycis 8.7% and Acer pictum subsp. mono 8.3%, that of unit 2 was Larix kaempferi 23.2%, C. controversa 20.1% and P. tricuspidata 6.5%, that of unit 3 was Q. mongolica 15.8%, C. crenata 13.4% and F. rhynchophylla 9.8%, that of unit 4 was Q. mongolica 26.6%, Q. variabilis 20.8% and Pinus densiflora 16.7%, that of unit 5 was Q. mongolica 48.3%, Styrax obassia 7.5%, F. rhynchophylla 5.3% in the order, respectively. Each vegetation unit was classified with dependance on environmental factors as 700m of altitude, $20^{\circ}$ of slope degree, middle slope of topography, 20% of bare rock, 30 taxa of present species, 80% of tree layer coverage rate and 20m of tree layer height. In conclusion, it was preferentially considered that development of peculiar and specific management methods with vegetation unit classified above should be needed for ecological and sustainable forest vegetation management.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2018

The cactus habitat in Jeju Island has a phytogeographically specific distribution in the East Asian region, and forms a unique landscape as the only native cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) habitat in Korea. However, there has been no detailed investigation on the distribution of cacti in the habitat and no investigation on the diversity of the mixed composition of plants in the habitats and their correlation with the distribution of cactus populations. This study attempted to investigate the diversity of vascular plants in the Wollyeong-ri cactus habitat and record the actual distribution and trends of cactus distribution. In addition to the distribution characteristics of cacti, we also discuss the characteristics of species reflecting the characteristics of the habitat among the mixed population of plant species, as well as the biological and environmental factors that threaten the maintenance of cactus populations or require management for preservation of cacti. Considering the phenological character, we conducted the field surveys for flora identification six times between June 2015 and September 2017. The Engler classification system was used for the arrangement sequence and names of plants, and the Korean Plant Names Index was adopted for the Korean name of the species. The study results showed that the Wolryung-ri cactus habitat in Jeju Island has the characteristic physiognomy of an area dominated by cactus. For the vascular plants, a total of 125 taxa were identified, including 53 families, 104 genera, 109 species, 15 varieties and 1 forma. Endangered plants specified by the Ministry of Environment were not found. Two species, Cyrtomium falcatum and Asplenium incisum, were identified as the ferns, and no gymnosperms were found. In addition, 123 taxa of angiosperms, 91 taxa of dicotyledones and 32 taxa of monocotyledons were identified. The distributions of cacti were confirmed in 289 meshes corresponding to 59.3% of the total 487 meshes in the cactus protected area, which showed various coverage distributions ranging from 5% to 95%. Most of the meshes where no cacti were found are coastal areas with exposed basalt rocks where the soil depth has not developed or extremely restricted due to repeated waves, or areas where artificial facilities, grasslands, and observation paths have been constructed. On the other hand, there were 71 lattice points in 14.5% of the total area where the cactus showed 70% or higher dominance. Cacti are randomly distributed in these areas. They have adapted to the microhabitat environment and are found to be opportunistically distributed along the growable locations. Considering that the reproduction of cacti in the habitat is mostly dependent on parthenogenesis, the present distribution seems to reflect the potentially distributable regions of cacti in the habitat. Based on the results of field surveys, a management plan for conservation and protection of the protected areas has been proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.88-103
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• 2019

This paper aims to identify planting design for the renewal of Okgu Park, located in Siheung, Gyeonggi-do. I designate planting concept fit spatial functions and also suggest planting designs that are proper for a growth environment. The spatial functions of the research site are divided on the basis of the park facilities, its surroundings, and usage. To understand the planting concept, this paper looks into the distribution of plant species and the precise planting structure. To understand the planting concept and the current usage of shade space in the park, I examine the distribution of plant species and the precise planting structure. There are 48 kinds of plants, with Zoysia japonica area (28.84%), Prunus yedoensis (8.0%), Pinus thunbergii (6.73%) and Zelkova serrata (6.38%) taking up the majority. 27 places were chosen for researching the precise planting structure. The research shows that the average green coverage ratio is 38.14% and the average green capacity coefficient is $0.72m^3/m^2$. The growth defective rate of trees in the shade areas is estimated by averaging the classified growth conditions of individual trees per block of shade areas. Areas with an inferior environment for growth and low spatial usage in Okgu Park are selected as subjects for planting design. After comparing the spatial functions with planting concepts and analyzing the growth of plants, I identify $36,236m^2$ areas with inferior growth condition. I also examine structures and the surrounding areas to find areas that require urgent planting improvement, specifically identifying landscape space and shade space around the fountain and the buffer space nearby the North gate. I rearrange spatial functions in the selected areas to devise a planting design considering the existing vegetation, layer structure, and its usage. I set the planting concept and direction to improve the landscape of the selected areas through implementing a planting design so the park users can be satisfied with each space.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-31
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• 2000

Quaternary Geological and geophysical investigation was performed at the Eurimji reservoir of Jaechon City in order to interprete depositional environment and genesis of lake sediments. For this purpose, echo sounding, bottom sampling and columnar sampling by drilling on board and GPR survey were employed for a proper field investigation. Laboratory tests cover grain size population analysis, pollen analysis and $^{14}C$ datings for the lake sediments. The some parts of lake bottom sediments anthropogenically tubated and filled several times to date, indicating several mounds on the bottom surface which is difficult to explain by bottom current. Majority of natural sediments were accumulated both as rolling and suspended loads during seasonal flooding regime, when flash flow and current flow are relatively strong not only at bridge area of the western part of Eurimji, connected to stream valley, but at the several conduit or sewage system surrounding the lake. Most of uniform suspend sediments are accumulated at the lake center and lower bank area. Some parts of bottom sediments indicate the existence of turbid flow and mudflow probably due to piezometric overflowing from the lake bottom, the existence of which are proved by CM patterns of the lake bottom sediments. The columnar samples of the lake sediments in ER-1 and ER-3-1 boreholes indicate good condition without any human tubation. The grain size character of borehole samples shows poorly sorted population, predominantly composed of fine sand and muds, varying skewness and kurtosis, which indicate multi-processed lake deposits, very similar to lake bottom sediments. Borehole columnar section, echo sounding and GPR survey profilings, as well as processed data, indicate that organic mud layers of Eurimji lake deposits are deeper and thicker towards lower bank area, especially west of profile line-9. In addition the columnar sediments indicate plant coverage of the Eurimji area were divided into two pollen zones. Arboreal pollen ( AP) is predominant in the lower pollen zone, whreas non-aboreal pollen(NAP) is rich in the upper pollen zone. Both of the pollen zones are related to the vegetation coverage frequently found in coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees(mixed forest) surrounded by mountains and hilly areas and prevailing by aquatic or aquatic margin under the wet temperate climate. The $^{14}C$ age of the dark gray organic muds, ER1-12 sample, is 950$\pm$40 years B.P. As the sediments are anthropogenetically undisturbed, it is assumed that the reliability of age is high. Three $^{14}C$ ages of the dark gray organic muds, including ER3-1-8, ER3-1-10, ER3-1-11 samples, are 600$\pm$30 years B.P., 650$\pm$30 years B.P., 800$\pm$40 years B.P. in the descending order of stratigraphic columnar section. Based on the interpretation of depositional environments and formation ages, it is proved that Eurimji reservoir were constructed at least 950$\pm$40 years B.P., the calibrated ages of which ranges from 827 years, B.P. to 866 years B.P. Ancient people utilize the natural environment of the stream valley to meet the need of water irrigation for agriculture in the local valley center and old alluvium fan area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.289-298
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate salt marsh flora and vegetation in the mouth of Mankyeong river estuary area where has a project for Sea Man Geum Reclaimed Land so that we can foster a foundation on restoration of an ecological habitat, development of applicable plants and establishment of a conservation policy after developing the reclaimed land for salt marsh vegetation which has great ecological value. As a result of this research, there are 10 families 25 genera 29 species and 3 varieties of vascular plants in the Mankyong-river estuary area. These are 0.76% among 4,191 of Korean vascular plants. There are also 5 families 6 genera 6 species and 1 varietiy of the naturalized plants which are 7 taxa in total and 3.85% of indicators of naturalized plants. Firstly, a district of low tide marsh has below 5% of vegetation coverage of Suaeda japonica and the vegetation cover was increasing rapidly while moving to a place of high tide marsh which is in the direction to a bank. In general, a range of from low tide marsh to high tide marsh is distributed with sequence of Suaeda japonica$\rightarrow$Suaeda maritima$\rightarrow$Suaeda japonica$\rightarrow$Aster tripolium$\rightarrow$Artemisia scoparia$\rightarrow$Carex scabrifolia$\rightarrow$Zoysia sinica$\rightarrow$Phragmites australis$\rightarrow$Phacelurus latifolius. Suaeda japonica has the highest dominance among the species composition and Aster tripolium, Phragmites australis, Artemisia scoparia, Carex scabrifolia and Phacelurus latifolius are distributed as zonation or patch. By the Z-M method eleven plant communities were recognized; Suaeda japonica, Suaeda japonica-Suaeda maritima, Suaeda maritima, Suaeda japonica-Aster tripolium, Aster tripolium, Phragmites australis, Carex scabrifolia, Phacelurus latifolius, Artemisia scoparia-Aster tripolium, Paspalum distichum var. indutum and Aster tripolium-Artemisia scoparia community. The actual vegetation map was constructed of the grounds of the communities classified and other data.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2009

In the flora of the whole area of Jakeundang at Byeonsanbando National Park, a total of 105 taxa were identified including 50 families, 88 genera, 98 species, 6 varieties and 1 form. These were again divided into 31 taxa (29.5%) of woody plants and 74 taxa (70.5%) of herbaceous plants. In addition, 4 taxa of the Korea Forest Service, designated rare plants in the flora were identified to grow there including Phacelurus latifolius (Preservation priority order: No. 194), Aristolochia contorta (No. 151), Koelreuteria paniculata (No. 115), and Glehnia littoralis (No. 203). Indigofera koreana, Viola seoulensis that are on the list of Korean endemic plants were also identified and the plants approved for export were identified similarly to rare plants. In addition, among the floral region-based specific plants, the plant group belonging to class V, class IV and II didn't appear and a total of 16 taxa 3 taxa including Elymus mollis, Salsola collina and Koelreuteria paniculata in class III, and 13 taxa including Ischaemum anthephephoroides, Phacelurus latifolius, Asparagus cochinchinensis, Melandryum oldhamianum for. roseum, Calystegia soldanella, Messerschmidia sibirica, Scutellaria strigillosa and Aster spathulifolius, etc. in class I were identified. Among the naturalized plants in the surveyed sites, 6 families, 10 genera, and 10 taxa were identified to grow, such as Bromus unioloides, Phytolacca americana, Lepidium apetalum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Oenothera biennis and Xanthium canadense, etc. and the naturalization rate was analyzed to be 9.5% of all 105 taxa of vascular plants. This research analyzed the coverage ratio and importance value by dividing the community into a sand dunes and back swamp and divided the sand dune area into Vitex rotundifolia community and the back swamp into Phacelurus latifolius community. Jakeundang is designated as a sand dune plants observation area and managed by the office of Byeonsanbando National Park. To preserve this place, it is desirable to take a systematic management measure, such as a visit to this place on a subscription basis or education and publicity on sand dune plants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.83 no.4
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• pp.545-555
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• 1994

The objective of the study was to provide the useful scientific data on the early rehabilitation of the legging road after timber harvesting in the forest area. This study was carried out at logging roads which were constructed during 1989 and 1994 in Mt. Baekwoon. The field survey was conducted in July, 1991. Judging from the analysis of soil bulk density, time required for recovery as the undisturbed forest soil condition was more than 10 years in the road which was left, and the regression equation is as follows, $$Y_1=1.4195-0.0744{\cdot}X(R^2=0.91)$$ $$Y_2=1.4673-0.0688{\cdot}X(R^2=0.73)$$ (X : elapsed year after road construction. $Y_1$, $Y_2$ : soil bulk density($g/cm^3$) at 0~7.5cm, and 7.5~15.0cm, respectively) Especially soil bulk density with buffer strip-woods was $0.890-0.903g/cm^3$, so it was 20% lower than that of logging road surface without buffer strip-woods. Among the 7 factors, location, sand content, and soil hardness had statistically significant effect on the soil bulk density in logging road surface. The pioneer species on logging road surface were Rhus cratargifolius, Prunus chinensis, and Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, etc. in woody species, and Pteridium aquilinum, Arundinella hirta, and Lysimachia clethroides, etc. in herb species. So, in process of year, average plant coverage were 70% on cutting and banking slope and 20% on logging road surface which elapsed 6 years after logging road construction. Through this research, buffer strip-woods must be remained for environmental conservation of forest conditions, and from the time to be closed the road, planting, seeding, and grazing works could be effective to the soil condition and vegetation recovery.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.35-50
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• 1999

The relationship between floristic composition and soil environmental conditions was investigated in the forest vegetation of Mt. Paekun. The forest vegetation unit of Mt. Paekun was divided into six plant communities by Zurich-Montpellier method, such as Quercus mongelica community (Typical subcommunity, Rhododendron schlippenbaohii subcommunity), Q. variabilis community, Fraxinus rhynchophylla community, Pinus densiflora community, Larix Eeptolepis community and Pinus koraiensis community. Q. mongolica community group was distributed at the altitude over 500 meter, Q. variabilis and P. densiflora communities appeared on the southwestern slope at the altitudes of 600 ~ 700 m and 290 ~ 700 m. However, L. leptolepis and P. koraiensis plantation were distributed at lower altitude, on hillside or around homestead. The DBH class distribution of dominant species in each community showed that Q. mongolica had 10.9 individuals/a at 6~10 cm class, Q. variabilis 2.5 individuals/a at 11~15 cm class, P. densiflora 1.8 individuals/a at 26~30 cm class, F. rhynchophylla 3.3 individuals/a at 2~5 cm class, and L. leptolepis 5.9 individuals/a at 11~ 15 cm class. Q. mongolica and Q. variabilis communities showed a stable bell-shaped pattern of distribution. The contents of organic matters and soil water, and cation exchange capacity of the soil increased, and the pH decreased as the altitude gets higher increased altitude at the each communities. The contents of the soil water and organic matters of the forest soil collected in Q. mongolica community were in the 17.81% to 51.20% and 5.51% to 14.90%, respectively. These tendency is similar to the contents of N, P and K, but those of Ca, Mg, and CEC was lower than in other communities. Cation exchange capacity was suspected to be correlated to the pH. The hypothetical successional sere of the forest vegetation of Mt. Paekun is as follows: Pinus densiflora community longrightarrowQ. variabilis community longrightarrowQ. mongolica community.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2016

Deutzia paniculata is an endemic species to the Korean Peninsula. Despite of importance for conservation, the population structure and habitat characteristics of D. paniculata have not been determined yet. We analyzed the ecological characteristics of the species based on the literature review and field survey. Field survey was conducted on May to October 2014 during which 11 quadrats of size $15{\times}15m$ were studied in six regions. Each of the quadrats were further divided into $5{\times}5m$ small quadrats and population characteristics were recorded. The population and habitat characteristics were analyzed, including species abundance (density and coverage), demographic attributes (flowering rates and fruiting plants), vegetation (structure, species composition), light availability (transmitted light and canopy openness) and soil characteristics (temperature and humidity). We found that D. paniculata mainly distributed in Gyeongsangdo (including Taebaek in Gangwondo) along a broad elevational range of 290~959 m (mean: 493 m) above sea level. In preferred habitat the species grows within the slope range of $7^{\circ}$ and $35^{\circ}$ with the average of $16^{\circ}$. D. paniculata was generally distributed on talus deposits and low adjacent slopes. The average number of individual plants per small quadrat was 12.5 with the mean density $0.5stems\;m^{-2}$. The vegetative reproduction was frequent in D. paniculata and mean flowering rate was as low as 15%. Altogether 138 taxa were found in whole observation area with the dominant tree species mainly spring ephemerals, such as Cornus controversa (importance value: 25.5%) and Fraxinus rhynchophylla (importance value: 15.8%). Although, C. controversa usually grows on steep slopes and F. rhynchophylla mostly distributed at high-altitudes, however, both species distributed in disturbed environments and among talus deposits. Thus based on our results, we concluded that D. paniculata is a disturbance-prone species, primarily existing in habitats subjected to natural disturbances, such as floods. The species occurs less at anthropogenically disturbed sites, thus there is no apparent threat to the populations and habitat of D. paniculata.